Emergency Procedures Handbook

Safety & Security Procedures

Central Penn College's Emergency Response Team has produced this Emergency Procedures Handbook to inform students, faculty, staff and visitors of appropriate procedures in the event of an emergency. A printed copy of the handbook is posted in all classrooms, office suites and on-campus residences.

The campus community is encouraged to carefully review this handbook in order to prepare for a possible emergency. Any questions about procedures should be directed to the Central Penn Safety & Security Department at (717) 728-2364.

Crawl low under any smoke to your exit—heavy smoke and poisonous gases collect first along the ceiling.

When the smoke alarm sounds, get out fast. You may have only seconds to escape safely.

If there is smoke blocking your door or first way out, use a second way out.

Smoke is toxic. If you must escape through smoke, get low and go under the smoke to your way out.

Before opening a door, feel the doorknob and door. If either is hot, leave the door closed and use your second way out.

If there is smoke coming around the door, leave the door closed and use a second way out.

If you open a door, open it slowly. Be ready to shut it quickly if heavy smoke or fire is present.

If you can’t get to someone needing assistance, leave the area and call 911. Tell the emergency operator where the person is located.

If you can’t get out, close the door and cover vents and cracks around doors with cloth or tape to keep smoke out. Call 911. Say where you are and signal for help at the window with a light- colored cloth or a flashlight.

If your clothes catch fire, stop, drop, and roll—stop immediately, drop to the ground, and cover your face with your hands. Roll over and over or back and forth until the fire is out. If you or someone else cannot stop, drop, and roll, smother the flames with a blanket or towel. Use cool water to treat the burn immediately for 3 to 5 minutes. Cover with a clean, dry cloth. Get medical help right away by calling 911.

Explosion

Get under a sturdy table or desk if things are falling around you. When they stop falling, leave quickly, watching for obviously weakened floors and stairways. As you exit from the building, be especially watchful of falling debris.

Leave the building as quickly as possible. Crawl low if there is smoke. Do not stop to retrieve personal possessions or make phone calls.

Do not use elevators.

Check for fire and other hazards.

Once you are out, do not stand in front of windows, glass doors or other potentially hazardous areas.

Move away from sidewalks or streets to be used by emergency officials or others still exiting the building.

If you are Trapped in Debris:

If possible, signal your location to rescuers. Tap on a pipe or wall so rescuers can hear where you are.

Shout and whistle only as a last resort. Shouting can cause a person to inhale dangerous amounts of dust.

Avoid unnecessary movement so you don’t kick up dust.

Cover your nose and mouth with anything you have on hand. (Dense-weave cotton material can act as a good filter. Try to breathe through the material.)

Every bomb threat must be considered real until investigated to ensure the safety of building occupants. In most instances, the call will be very brief; however, attempt to keep the caller on the phone as long as possible.

Procedures to follow

Telephone Threat

Try to remain calm.

If you have caller ID, record the incoming phone number.

If another person is close by, notify him/her of the call and ask him/her to call 911.

Upon hanging up, immediately call 911 and give the specific details of the call to the police dispatcher.

To avoid panic, do not announce the call to other occupants of the building.

Notify Security about the call.

Security will decide when, and if, to evacuate and summon outside assistance.

Written/parcel Threat

Try to remain calm.

Immediately seek safety 150 feet from the suspicious item. Do not use portable radio equipment within 150 feet of suspicious item. THIS INCLUDES CELL PHONES!

Keep people from handling or going near the package.

Call 911. DO NOT USE A CELL PHONE! Notify Security about the call.

Promptly write down everything you can remember about how you received the letter or parcel or how you found the package.

Do not discuss the threat with other faculty/staff members or students.

Keep an eye on the sky. Look for darkening skies, flashes of light or increasing wind. Listen for the sound of thunder. If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning.

Blowing debris or the sound of an approaching tornado may alert you. Tornado danger signs included dark, almost greenish sky; large hail; a large, dark, low-lying cloud or a load roar, similar to a freight train.

Heed shelter or evacuation requests made by officials or announcements on radio/television.

Seek shelter in a centrally located sturdy room on the lowest possible floor, away from windows and exterior doors. Gather roommates, classmates and officemates.

Close outside doors and window blinds, shades or curtains. Stay away from doors, windows and exterior walls. Stay in the shelter location until the danger has passed.

During lightning, do not use wired telephones, touch electrical appliances or use running water. Cordless or cellular telephones are safe to use.

Remember the 30/30 Lightning Safety Rule: Go indoors if, after seeing lightning, you cannot count to 30 before hearing thunder. Stay indoors for 30 minutes after hearing the last clap of thunder.

If it has been raining hard for several hours, or steadily raining for several days, be alert to the possibility of a flood.

Do not walk through flowing water. Drowning is the number one cause of flood deaths. Six inches of swiftly moving water can knock you off your feet.

Stay indoors and limit travel to only absolutely necessary trips. Listen to radio/television for updates.

Thunderstorms and Lightning

Avoid contact with corded phones and devices including those plugged into electric for recharging. Cordless and wireless phones not connected to wall outlets are OK to use.

Avoid contact with electrical equipment or cords. Unplug appliances and other electrical items such as computers and turn off air conditioners. Power surges from lightning can cause serious damage.

Avoid contact with plumbing. Do not wash your hands, do not take a shower, do not wash dishes, and do not do laundry. Plumbing and bathroom fixtures can conduct electricity.

Stay away from windows and doors, and stay off porches.

Do not lie on concrete floors and do not lean against concrete walls.

Avoid natural lightning rods such as a tall, isolated tree in an open area.

Avoid hilltops or open fields.

Take shelter in a sturdy building. Avoid isolated sheds or other small structures in open areas.

If you are driving, try to safely exit the roadway and park. Stay in the vehicle and turn on the emergency flashers until the heavy rain ends. Avoid touching metal or other surfaces that conduct electricity in and outside the vehicle.

DROP to the ground; take COVER by getting under a sturdy table or other piece of furniture; and HOLD ON until the shaking stops. If there isn’t a table or desk near you, cover your face and head with your arms and crouch in an inside corner of the building.

Stay away from glass, windows, outside doors and walls, and anything that could fall, such as lighting fixtures or furniture.

Stay in bed if you are there when the earthquake strikes. Hold on and protect your head with a pillow, unless you are under a heavy light fixture that could fall. In that case, move to the nearest safe place.

Do not use a doorway except if you know it is a strongly supported, load-bearing doorway and it is close to you. Many inside doorways are lightly constructed and do not offer protection.

Stay inside until the shaking stops and it is safe to go outside. Do not exit a building during the shaking. Research has shown that most injuries occur when people inside buildings attempt to move to a different location inside the building or try to leave.

DO NOT use the elevators.

Be aware that the electricity may go out or the sprinkler systems or fire alarms may turn on.

If Outdoors

Stay there.

Move away from buildings, streetlights, and utility wires.

Once in the open, stay there until the shaking stops. The greatest danger exists directly outside buildings, at exits and alongside exterior walls. Ground movement during an earthquake is seldom the direct cause of death or injury. Most earthquake-related casualties result from collapsing walls, flying glass and falling objects.

If in a Moving Vehicle

Stop as quickly as safety permits and stay in the vehicle. Avoid stopping near or under buildings, trees, overpasses and utility wires.

Proceed cautiously once the earthquake has stopped. Avoid roads, bridges or ramps that might have been damaged by the earthquake.

If Trapped Under Debris

Do not light a match.

Do not move about or kick up dust.

Cover your mouth with a handkerchief or clothing.

Tap on a pipe or wall so rescuers can locate you. Use a whistle if one is available. Shout only as a last resort. Shouting can cause you to inhale dangerous amounts of dust.

If you are under a tornado warning, seek shelter immediately! Most injuries associated with high winds are from flying debris, so remember to protect your head.

If Indoors

Go to the lowest building level. If there is no basement, go to the center of an interior room on the lowest level (closet, interior hallway) away from corners, windows, doors, and outside walls. Put as many walls as possible between you and the outside. Get under a sturdy table and use your arms to protect your head and neck. Apartment residents shelter-in-place in the bathroom. Townhouse residents shelter-in-place in lower bathroom or kitchen floor.

Do not use elevators.

Put on sturdy shoes.

Do not open windows.

If Outdoors

Immediately get into a vehicle, buckle your seat belt and try to drive to the closest sturdy shelter.

If your vehicle is hit by flying debris while you are driving, pull over and park.

Stay in the car with the seat belt on. Put your head down below the windows; cover your head with your hands and a blanket, coat or other cushion if possible.

If you can safely get noticeably lower than the level of the roadway, leave your car and lie in that area, covering your head with your hands

Do not get under an overpass or bridge. You are safer in a low, flat location.

Never try to outrun a tornado in urban or congested areas in a car or truck. Instead, leave the vehicle immediately for safe shelter.

Provide assistance to others in your immediate area who are unfamiliar with the building.

If you are in an unlighted area, proceed cautiously to an area that has emergency lighting.

If instructed to evacuate, proceed cautiously to the nearest clear exit.

Elevators

Use the emergency button to alert Security to your location and situation.

If someone in the elevator has a medical emergency while stuck, call 911 for help.

If power is inticipated to go out in apartments or townhomes

Charge cell phones/laptops now

Save any work on computers

In the event that you are unable to access the Internet, you should contact your professor once your connectivity is restored and they will be flexible in working with you to discuss submission of course assignments.

Keep a flashlight handy! Don’t have a flashlight? Emergency flashlights are available at the Security Office – sign one out while you can safely walk to the office.

If power goes out in apartments or townhomes

Stay indoors

Dress warmly and have blankets easily accessible; Keep doors and windows closed as much as possible to hold in the heat

Be aware that flash flooding can occur. If there is any possibility of a flash flood, move immediately to higher ground. Do not wait for instructions to move.

Be aware of stream, drainage channels, canyons and other areas known to flood suddenly. Flash floods can occur in these areas with or without typical warnings such as rain clouds or heavy rain.

If in a building (water damage)

Notify Security immediately.

Report severity and location of the leak.

If an electrical source is present, use caution and evacuate the area. Never attempt to unplug or remove an electrical appliance or wire from a flooded area.

If you know the source of the water and can stop it or slow it down safely, do so.

Protect objects in jeopardy by taking essential steps to avoid or reduce immediate water damage, such as covering objects with plastic or moving small or light objects out of danger.

If you have to leave campus, remember these evacuation tips:

Do not walk through moving water. Six inches of moving water can make you fall. If you have to walk in water, walk where the water is not moving. Use a stick to check the firmness of the ground in front of you.

Do not drive into flooded areas. If floodwaters rise around your car, abandon the car and move to higher ground if you can do so safely. You and the vehicle can be swept away quickly.

Do not camp or park your vehicle along streams, rivers or creeks, particularly during threatening conditions.

Quickly try to define the impacted area or where the chemical is coming from, if possible.

Take immediate action to get away.

If the chemical is inside a building where you are, evacuate the building without passing through the contaminated area, if possible.

If you can’t get out of the building or find clean air without passing through the area where you see signs of a chemical attack, it may be better to move as far away as possible and shelter-in-place.

If you are instructed to remain inside, you should:

Close doors and windows and turn off heating/cooling units.

Seek shelter in an internal room.

Seal the room with duct tape and plastic sheeting, or other materials, if possible.

Listen for instructions from authorities.

If you are caught in or near a contaminated area, you should:

Move away immediately in a direction upwind of the source.

Find shelter as quickly as possible

If you are outside, quickly decide what is the fastest way to find clean air. Consider if you can get out of the area or if you should go inside the closest building and shelter-in- place.

Biological Threat

The first evidence of an attack may be when you notice symptoms of the disease caused by exposure to an agent.

In the event of a biological attack, public health officials may not immediately be able to provide information on what you should do. It will take time to determine exactly what the illness is, how it should be treated, and who is in danger. However, you should watch TV, listen to the radio, or check the Internet for official news and information including signs and symptoms of the disease, areas in danger, if medications or vaccinations are being distributed and where you should seek medical attention if you become ill.

If you become aware of an unusual and suspicious substance, quickly get away.

Protect yourself. Cover your mouth and nose with layers of fabric that can filter the air but still allow breathing. Examples include two to three layers of cotton such as a t-shirt, handkerchief or towel. Otherwise, several layers of tissue or paper towels may help.

There may be times when you would want to consider wearing a face mask to reduce spreading germs if you yourself are sick, or to avoid coming in contact with contagious germs if others around you are sick.

If you have been exposed to a biological agent, remove and bag your clothes and personal items. Follow official instructions for disposal of contaminated items.

Wash yourself with soap and water and put on clean clothes.

Call 911 and seek medical assistance. You may be advised to stay away from others or even quarantined.

If a roommate or officemate becomes sick, it is important to be suspicious.

Do not assume, however, that you should go to a hospital emergency room or that any illness is the result of the biological attack. Symptoms of many common illnesses may overlap.

Use common sense, practice good hygiene and cleanliness to avoid spreading germs, and seek medical advice.

Consider if you are in the group area authorities believe to be in danger.

If your symptoms match those described and you are in the group considered at risk, immediately seek emergency medical attention.

Follow instructions of doctors and other public health officials.

If the disease is contagious expect to receive medical evaluation and treatment. You may be advised to stay away from others or even deliberately quarantined.

For non-contagious diseases, expect to receive medical evaluation and treatment.

In a declared biological emergency or developing epidemic, there may be reason to stay away from crowds where others may be infected.

Listen to local radio or television stations for detailed information and instructions. Follow the instructions carefully. You should stay away from the area to minimize the risk of contamination. Remember that some toxic chemicals are odorless.

If asked to evacuate

Do so immediately.

Stay tuned to a radio or television for information on evacuation routes, temporary shelters, and procedures.

Follow the routes recommended by the authorities— shortcuts may not be safe. Leave at once.

If you have time, minimize contamination in buildings by closing all windows, shutting all vents and turning off all heating/cooling unites.

Remember to help others who may require special assistance and people with access and functional needs.

If caught outside

Stay upstream, uphill, and upwind! In general, try to go at least one-half mile (usually 8-10 city blocks) from the danger area. Move away from the accident scene and help keep others away.

Do not walk into or touch any spilled liquids, airborne mists or condensed solid chemical deposits. Try not to inhale gases, fumes and smoke. If possible, cover mouth with a cloth while leaving the area.

Stay away from accident victims until the hazardous material has been identified.

If in a motor vehicle

Stop and seek shelter in a permanent building. If you must remain in your car, keep car windows and vents closed and shut off the air conditioner and heater.

If requested to stay indoors

Close and lock all exterior doors and windows, if possible. Close vents and as many interior doors as possible.

Turn off heating/cooling units.

Go into an above ground room that has the fewest openings to the outside.

Seal gaps under doorways and windows with wet towels or plastic sheeting and duct tape.

Seal gaps around window and air conditioning units, bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans, and stove and dryer vents with duct tape and plastic sheeting, wax paper or aluminum wrap.

Use material to fill cracks and holes in the room, such as those around pipes.

If gas or vapors could have entered the building, take shallow breaths through a cloth or a towel. Avoid eating or drinking any food or water that may be contaminated.

If an accident at Three Mile Island, a nuclear power plant in our area, were to release radiation, local authorities would activate warning sirens or another approved alert method. They also would instruct you through the Emergency Alert System (EAS) on local television and radio stations on how to protect yourself.

PROcEDURES tO fOllOw

Nuclear Power Plant Emergency

Follow Federal or State Emergency Alert System instructions carefully.

Minimize your exposure by increasing the distance between you and the source of the radiation. This could be evacuation or remaining indoors to minimize exposure.

If you are told to evacuate, keep car windows and vents closed; use re-circulating air.

If you are advised to remain indoors, turn off the air conditioner, ventilation fans, furnace and other air intakes.

Shield yourself by placing heavy, dense material between you and the radiation source. Go to a basement or other underground area, if possible.

Do not use the telephone unless absolutely necessary. 7. Stay out of the incident zone. Most radiation loses its strength fairly quickly.

Nuclear Explosion

Listen for official information and follow the instructions provided by emergency response personnel. Based on what is known about the threat, you may be asked to take shelter, go to a specific location or evacuate the area.

If an attack warning is issued, take cover as quickly as you can, below ground if possible, and stay there until instructed to do otherwise.

Find the nearest building, preferably built of brick or concrete, and go inside to avoid any radioactive material outside.

If better shelter, such as a multi-story building or basement can be reached within a few minutes, go there immediately.

Go as far below ground as possible or in the center of a tall building. The goal is to put as many walls and as much concrete, brick and soil between you and the radioactive material outside.

Stay where you are, even if you are separated from your family. Inside is the safest place for all people in the impacted area. It can save your life.

During the time with the highest radiation levels it is safest to stay inside, sheltered away from the radioactive material outside.

Radiation levels are extremely dangerous after a nuclear detonation but the levels reduce rapidly.

When evacuating is in your best interest, you will be instructed to do so. All available methods of communication will be used to provide news and / or instructions.

People in the path of the radioactive material - downwind from the detonation - may also be asked to take protective measures.

If you are caught outside and unable to get inside immediately:

Do not look at the flash or fireball—it can blind you.

Take cover behind anything that might offer protection.

Lie flat on the ground and cover your head. If the explosion is some distance away, it could take 30 seconds or more for the blast wave to hit.

Take shelter as soon as you can, even if you are many miles from ground zero where the attack occurred—radioactive fallout can be carried by the winds for hundreds of miles. Remember the three protective factors: Distance, shielding and time.

If you were outside during or after the blast, get clean as soon as possible, to remove radioactive material that may have settled on your body.

Remove your clothing to keep radioactive material from spreading. Removing the outer layer of clothing can remove up to 90% of radioactive material.

If practical, place your contaminated clothing in a plastic bag and seal or tie the bag. Place the bag as far away as possible from humans and animals so that the radiation it gives off does not affect others.

When possible, take a shower with lots of soap and water to help remove radioactive contamination. Do not scrub or scratch the skin.

Wash your hair with shampoo or soap and water. Do not use conditioner in your hair because it will bind radioactive material to your hair, keeping it from rinsing out easily.

While the explosive blast will be immediately obvious, the presence of radiation will not be known until trained personnel with specialized equipment are on the scene. Whether you are indoors or outdoors, be extra cautious. It would be safer to assume radiological contamination has occurred—particularly in an urban setting or near other likely terrorist targets—and take the proper precautions. As with any radiation, you want to avoid or limit exposure. This is particularly true of inhaling radioactive dust that results from the explosion. As you seek shelter from any location (indoors or outdoors) and there is visual dust or other contaminants in the air, breathe though the cloth of your shirt or coat to limit your exposure. If you manage to avoid breathing radioactive dust, your proximity to the radioactive particles may still result in some radiation exposure.

PROcEDURES tO fOllOw

If the explosion or radiological release occurs inside, get out immediately and seek safe shelter. Otherwise:

If Indoors

If you have time, turn off ventilation and heating systems and close windows and vents. Seek shelter immediately, preferably underground or in an interior room of a building, placing as much distance and dense shielding as possible between you and the outdoors where the radioactive material may be.

Seal windows and external doors that do not fit snugly with duct tape to reduce infiltration of radioactive particles. Plastic sheeting will not provide shielding from radioactivity nor from blast effects of a nearby explosion.

Listen for official instructions and follow directions.

If Outdoors

Seek shelter indoors immediately in the nearest undamaged building.

If appropriate shelter is not available, cover your nose and mouth and move as rapidly as is safe upwind, away from the location of the explosive blast. Then, seek appropriate shelter as soon as possible.

Conduct that harasses, disrupts or interferes with another individual’s performance

Conduct that creates an intimidating, offensive or hostile environment

Potential warning signs

Verbal, nonverbal or written threats

Fascination with weapons or violence

New or increased stress at home, school or work • Expressions of hopelessness or anxiety

Insubordinate behavior

Dramatic change in work performance or attitude • Destruction of property

Drug and alcohol abuse

Externalization of blame

Contributing risk factors

Termination of employment or student status

Disciplinary actions

Ongoing conflicts between employees or students • Domestic or family violence

Financial problems

Violence prevention

Be aware of what is going on around you at all times. Awareness is a proven method for increased personal safety.

Tell your supervisor or a college official when you notice unusual or suspicious behavior.

Get acquainted with Security. Do not hesitate to ask for help.

Finally, remember: a safe workplace and college is everyone’s responsibility.

REPORtINg vIOlENcE aND wORKPlacE vIOlENcE

Call 911 and Security for any immediate threats

Workplace violence should also be reported to the organizational development director

Anonymous Tips – uTip – You can submit completely anonymous tips to Central Penn Security. How to use uTip: Send your tip by texting “CentralPenn” and a brief description of the incident to 50911, or online.

REPORtINg HaRaSSMENt

Central Penn is committed to providing a work environment that is free of discrimination and unlawful harassment. Actions, words, jokes, or comments based on an individual’s sex, race, ethnicity, age, religion, physical appearance or any other legally protected characteristic will not be tolerated. Harassment (both overt and subtle) is a form of misconduct that is demeaning to another person, undermines the integrity of the person, and is strictly prohibited.

Students – As soon as it is practical/possible, notify Security and/or your resident advisor if you live on campus.

Employees – As soon as it is practical/possible, notify your supervisor.

Supervisors – Any supervisor or manager who becomes aware of possible harassment should promptly advise the organizational development director who will handle the matter in a timely and, to the extent possible, confidential manner.

Central Penn prohibits acts of reprisal against anyone involved in lodging a complaint of harassment. Conversely, Central Penn considers intentionally filing false reports of harassment a violation of this policy. Anyone engaging in harassment will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment or dismissal.

Make sure all valuables are out of plain sight. Mark your valuables; consider etching or other permanent marking.

Lock all doors and windows.

Do not prop open exterior doors.

Check your door and building locking mechanisms. Report service problems to Security.

Always keep your keys with you.

Students should be aware of who you and your housemates let into your apartment or townhouse. Have a conversation about who you feel comfortable having in your house and make sure you know everyone who is invited in. Remember to never leave guests unaccompanied.

Lock all vehicles and do not leave any valuables in vehicles.

Don’t hesitate to report any and all suspicious activity to Central Penn Security. Immediately report crimes to Security.

Smoking is not permitted in campus buildings. There are designated areas on campus for smoking. These areas are marked with “Smoking Area” signs and disposal receptacles. Care should be taken to ensure that discarded cigarettes are completely extinguished when they are placed in receptacles near buildings.

Wiring

Replace electrical cords that have cracked insulation or a broken connector. Report to Security.

UL approved surge protectors are the only acceptable form of extension cord allowed on campus.

Housekeeping

Extreme caution and care should be taken when cooking anything on the stove top or in the oven; never leave either unattended while in use. All cooking must be physically supervised, especially when using any type of cooking oil. Keep stove top clear when not in use. Regularly clean any drips or spills.

Do your part to keep hallways and stairways free of combustibles such as paper, boxes, desks and other flammable materials.

Devices such as candles and incense are not permitted in residence halls or buildings.

Clean out dryer lint traps after each use.

Arson

Adhere to building security measures and keep unauthorized people out.

Keep doors locked after business hours.

Report any suspicious activities to Security.

Appliances

Leave space for air to circulate around heaters and other heat-producing appliances such as copy machines and computers.

The use of space heaters is not recommended, anywhere on campus.

Designate an employee or resident to turn off or unplug all appliances, including coffeemakers, at the end of the day.

Instant Notifications

CP Alert

Register for CP Alert today to receive instant text, email or voice phone call notifications in the event of an on-campus emergency or closing. Students, faculty and staff may register for this system by visiting My.Centralpenn.

Central Penn College is a career-oriented, baccalaureate and post-baccalaureate, residential college in Summerdale, a suburb of Harrisburg, with an offsite location in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Central Penn College offers associate, bachelor's and master's degree programs for both traditional and continuing education students by providing hands-on and online distance education taught by experienced, caring faculty.